Drug Abuse at Sea:

LSD (acid)

Description

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) is a synthetic white powder which can be formed into crude pills or shapes. It is also found as impregnated papers the size of postage stamps, often with mystic signs or sheets of cartoon characters or miniature pictures printed on it. It is a pale or colourless solution in its pure form. All forms of the drug are odourless.

Administration

This can be by eating or by rubbing into gums, genitals or anus.

Associated Equipment

This may include silver foil wrappings or photographic paper (LSD degenerates in daylight). Clear gelatine capsules may also be found.

Degree of Addiction

	Psychological addiction:	strong
	Environmental addiction:	fairly strong
	Physical addiction:	none
	Body tolerance:	none to slight

Influence and Symptoms

It is a hallucinogenic drug and has a powerful effect on the mind. The effects are known as a 'trip' and can last anything between 5 and 24 hours although 6 to 12 is more usual. While under the influence of the drug the user will experience their surroundings in a very different way and the user's mood and environment influence the effects. Their sense of movement and time may speed up or slow down, and objects colour and sound may become distorted. The experience differs every time the drug is used. Once the effects have begun there is no way of stopping them, and the experience may be terrifying.

Users may feel very threatened and can even forget that the drug is responsible. Feeling paranoid or out of control can leave users shaken for a long time afterwards. Users may experience flashbacks where parts of a trip are briefly relived some time after the event. LSD can complicate mental problems such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.